269

In a bizarre turn of events near HMP Wandsworth in South London, police found themselves engaged in an unexpected pursuit after attempting to intercept a drone allegedly smuggling drugs and mobile phones into the prison.

Reports from eyewitnesses detailed how the operation turned comical when the drone, in a bid to evade capture, became ensnared in a tree. Despite efforts by firemen to dislodge the device, it was snatched away by an opportunistic urban fox before officers could seize it.

As police gave chase, they were alerted by the distressed cries of the fox, which had reportedly ingested some of the illicit substances carried by the drone and was now experiencing alarming symptoms.

The incident highlights the growing use of drones by criminal gangs to circumvent security measures and deliver contraband to inmates. Law enforcement agencies have been grappling with this issue, especially after the introduction of no-fly zones within 400 meters of all prisons, mandated by the Ministry of Justice at the end of last month.

Previously, authorities could only intervene when concrete evidence of contraband smuggling was found. Now, drone operators face hefty fines of up to £2,500, while those involved in smuggling operations may be subject to a decade of imprisonment.

The use of drones in prison smuggling has seen a significant rise in recent years, with figures indicating a more than doubling in sightings or captures of drones within prison grounds between 2019 and 2021. These drones often carry substances like spice, known to exacerbate violence among inmates, along with mobile phones used to facilitate further illicit activities.

While neither Wandsworth Prison nor the Ministry of Justice commented on the peculiar fox incident, Prisons Minister Edward Argar reiterated the government’s commitment to bolstering efforts to curb contraband smuggling into prisons.